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park features by greater care of the indigenous trees and the planting of copses where such are required, by the establishment of seats, and by perfecting the roads and walks as far as practicable. The park is now the nearest to the city of any large stretch of open, picturesque country, and this would seem to be almost a duty owed to the public.

This again brings to mind a project often urged upon Congress, but never realized by an actual appropriation for the work. I refer to the plan for extending the park to the nearest boundary road on the southeast and the west. This has often been referred to in previous annual reports, and it would seem that the present time is particularly favorable for the accomplishment of this object, since roads have recently been established by act of Congress quite near to the present boundaries.

Among the more pressing needs of the park is a small building with outlying yards, which can be used as a hospital and quarantine for sick animals and, incidentally, as a pathological and anatomical laboratory. In this connection, in view of the fact that the primary object of the park is for "the advancement of science," it must be considered how much our knowledge has been increased by such establishments as the Jardin des Plantes, of Paris, under Buffon, Cuvier, or Milne-Edwards; the gardens of the Zoological Society in London, by Huxley and others, and those at Berlin and elsewhere. I approve the recommendation of the superintendent that a modest laboratory for pathological research be added to the park equipment.

During the last year the number of visitors to the park has further increased, and it is not too much to say that no equal expenditure by Congress has brought so much of instruction and rational enjoyment to the people.

ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY.

As for several years past, the operations of the Astrophysical Observatory have been almost wholly directed toward measuring the amount of the solar radiation, and its loss in transmission through the sun's envelope and through our own atmosphere.

I do not yet regard the evidence of solar variability as conclusive, but still as rendering this conclusion more probable, and I am glad to state that two lines of investigation have this year become very prominent in the work of the Observatory, which will almost certainly lead to a conclusion regarding this important question.

The first of these is the almost daily bolometric examination of the large solar image formed by the great horizontal telescope, for the purpose of detecting changes in the transparency of the solar absorbing envelope. This work depends so little on the transparency of our

own atmosphere that it can be done almost as well in Washington as at a station more favored as regards atmospheric transparency and freedom from clouds. The past year has not given evidence of very marked variations either in the transparency of the sun's envelope or in the supposedly dependent mean temperature of the earth, but on the contrary the observations have continued most of the time near the mean in both respects. Such changes as have been noted are not, however, contradictory to the view that alterations of the transparency of the sun's envelope do occur, and cause changes in the amount of solar radiation received by the earth, which in turn cause departures of the earth's temperature from its mean.

The second line of investigation to which I have referred above is the determination of the total solar radiation outside our atmosphere, by observations with the bolometer and pyrheliometer at a station located in a relatively clear and cloudless region and at a considerable altitude above sea level. As long ago as February, 1902, at the request of the Hon. C. D. Walcott, and for the consideration of the Carnegie Institution, I urged in a letter to him the great utility of an observatory for solar research to be located at a high altitude and charged with the determination of the question of the amount of solar radiation and the limits of its variability. An observatory for solar research has now, in fact, been established by the Carnegie Institution on Mount Wilson, in southern California, after extensive tests of different proposed sites. By invitation of the director, Prof. George E. Hale, and in accord with the authorization of Congress for the undertaking of observations at high altitudes by the Astrophysical Observatory, I have sent to Mount Wilson an expedition in charge of Mr. C. G. Abbot, for the purpose of determining the conditions for studying the variability of the sun.

The expedition is equipped with spectro-bolometric and pyrhelio metric apparatus of the highest quality, and wholly adequate to making the most accurate possible determinations of solar radiation and its transmission through our atmosphere. As I have elsewhere remarked, I am not convinced that it is possible to estimate exactly the loss of radiation in our atmosphere by any observations whatever, but it does seem that the estimates which can be made from the observations of the Mount Wilson expedition will be so close an approximation to the truth that if a notable variation of solar radiation outside our atmosphere occurs the results will show it. Furthermore, similar observations are being continued as usual in Washington. Mr. Abbot reports that the sky above Mount Wilson is of great clearness and uniformity, and that weeks and even months pass there without a cloud appearing above the horizon, so that observations may be made almost every day with good prospects

of success.

It is expected that the expedition will remain on Mount Wilson until late in the autumn.

I take this opportunity to express my obligation to the Carnegie Institution and to Professor Hale and his coworkers for the aid and counsel they have so generously extended in furthering the objects of the expedition.

Additional details of the work of the Astrophysical Observatory will be found in the report of the aid acting in charge.

NECROLOGY.

ORVILLE HITCHCOCK PLATT.

It is with a keen personal regret that I have to record the death on April 22, 1905, of Senator Orville II. Platt, of Connecticut, who for six years had served on the Board of Regents, and who at all times took much personal interest in the welfare of the Institution.

Senator Platt was born in Washington, Conn., July 19, 1827. After an academic education he undertook the study of law at Litchfield. He was admitted to the bar in 1849, and practiced at Meriden. He became secretary of state of Connecticut in 1857. In 1861-62 he was a State senator; later he served as a member of the State house of representatives and as speaker of that body. From 1879 until the time of his death he was United States Senator from his native State, and his public life belongs to his country. I shall not add here my poor testimony to that of the history which will record his contribution to the national good. He was a man honored by all and best loved by those who best knew him.

Respectfully submitted.

S. P. LANGLEY,

Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

APPENDIX TO THE SECRETARY'S REPORT.

APPENDIX I.

REPORT ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report upon the condition and operations of the National Museum during the year ending June 30, 1905.

At the beginning of the year the excavation for the new building on the northern side of the Mall was actively under way and in the autumn the heavy concrete foundations were completed. In October, 1904, the contracts were executed for the granite required for the outer walls and for the trimmings of the two courts. Contracts for other materials were also entered into at intervals during the remainder of the year, all at prices which insure the putting up of the structure within the limit of $3,500,000 fixed by Congress. It was hoped that work upon the basement might begin by February or March, but unfortuuately the winter was severe, with much snow, which interfered with quarrying, and up to the close of the fiscal year not enough stone had been received to warrant the commencement of building operations. The date at which this report is written, however, permits it to be said that the first basement stone was laid on August 21, 1905, and no further delays are anticipated.

In respect to the increase of collections, the year's record has never been exceeded, except during the period immediately following the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. There were the usual accessions from the Government surveys and through donation and exchange, but the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held at St. Louis, furnished an opportunity probably not soon again to be presented for securing a very large amount of valuable material, especially in ethnology, mineral technology, and other branches of the useful arts, which was accepted to the extent of over thirty carloads. Only a small proportion of these objects could, however, be directly added to the classified and exhibition collections, owing to lack of space, and the greater part have been placed in storage to await the completion of the new building.

Among the additions from other sources was one of special moment consisting of the large and important private herbarium and botanical library of Capt. John Donnell Smith, of Baltimore, which the owner has most generously presented. The former comprises over 100,000 mounted plants, and the latter above 1,500 volumes.

The number of accessions, including only that small part of the material from the exposition which it was possible to place on record, was 1,692, and of specimens 245,384.

Except for the crowded state of the buildings, the Museum is now in as good condition as at any time in its history. The standard of the exhibition collections was materially improved, though their expansion practically ceased some years ago. The reserve, or study, collections were extensively utilized

in the promotion of knowledge, and duplicate specimens to the number of over 14,000 were distributed to educational establishments throughout the country. Buildings and equipment. The roofs of the Museum building have, as usual, demanded most attention in the matter of repairs. The temporary strengthening a few years ago of the supporting iron framework over the main halls has continued to be effective, but most of the slate covering had so far deteriorated that in 1904 the roof above the east hall was coated experimentally with asphalt, burlap, and slag. Having answered its purpose through one season, the roofs of the other halls and of the rotunda and one pavilion were similarly treated during last year. The metal work upon the roofs also required extensive overhauling, and several skylights were added. The 20 large windows in archeological hall, which have been approaching a condition bordering upon collapse, were completely repaired and made practically as strong as ever.

In view of the crowded condition of all the public halls, the building of only a few exhibition cases was called for. To provide, however, for the care and arrangement of the very extensive accessions received during the year, mainly from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the Government surveys, and a few large private donations, a considerable amount of storage furniture was demanded. The number of permanent cases of this character constructed was 213, and of drawers 1,032, in addition to which much shelving was put up and many boxes made for the storage of material in bulk and the distribution of duplicates.

The heating plant, with the addition of a few radiators, has given good service. Steam was maintained from October 8, 1904, to May 2, 1905, on an average of sixteen hours a day, the expenditure of coal amounting to 830 tons. A new arrangement of telephones was effected at the beginning of the year whereby the cost was materially reduced, and as a special fire precaution six standard alarm-boxes of the pattern used by the District of Columbia have been installed in different parts of the Museum building.

Organization and staff.-The organization of the Museum remains the same as heretofore, except that a Department of Mineral Technology, with Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Director of the United States Geological Survey, as curator, was established in the autumn of 1904, to permit of proper direction in the selection of objects relating to this subject at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

Dr. Cyrus Adler was made curator, and Dr. I. M. Casanowicz assistant curator of the Division of Historic Archeology. In the Division of Plants Dr. J. N. Rose was advanced to associate curator and Mr. W. R. Maxon to assistant curator, the position of aid being filled by the appointment of Mr. J. H. Painter. Dr. James E. Benedict, assistant curator of the Division of Marine Invertebrates, has supervised the exhibits in biology and had charge of the collections of comparative anatomy. Mr. Herbert S. Barber was appointed aid in the Division of Insects, and Mr. B. H. Ransom, of the Bureau of Animal Industry, assistant custodian of the Helminthological collections.

Mr. Charles Schuchert, for some years assistant curator of Stratigraphic Paleontology, who resigned to accept the professorship of paleontology in Yale University, has been succeeded by Dr. Ray S. Bassler. Vacancies in the Section of Vertebrate Paleontology were filled by the selection of Mr. James W. Gidley and Mr. Charles W. Gilmore as preparators, and of Mr. Norman H. Boss as assistant preparator.

The following gentlemen, to whom the Museum has become indebted for distinguished services or noteworthy contributions, were designated as honorary associates: In historic archeology, Dr. Paul Haupt, of Johns Hopkins University:

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